USPTO Patents Application 09888079

S. Varner et al.
U.S.S.N. 09/888,079
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This listing of claims will replace all prior versions and listings of claims in the application:
Claims 1-22. (cancelled).

Claim 23. (currently amended) A method for treating an eye comprising:
inserting into an eye a device comprising a piercing member and a cannula insertable

within the piercing member, the cannula having a length longer than the length of the piercing

member,

wherein the piercing member is inserted into the sclera of the eye and the device is
advanced transconjunctival^ through the sclera of the eye and

wherein the device is inserted into the eve by piercing the eye with the piercing member
and advancing the piercing member into the eye .

Claim 24. (original) The method of claim 23 wherein a therapeutic agent is
administered to a patient's eye through the device.

Claim 25. (original) The method of claim 23 wherein the therapeutic agent is
administered subretinally to the patient's eye.

Claim 26. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 wherein the

maximum cross-sectional dimension of the portion of the device that pierces a patient's eye is
about 25 gauge or smaller.

Claim 27. (previously presented) A method of treating an eye, comprising:

piercing the eye with a piercing member and inserting the piercing member into the eye,
the piercing member having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen defined therebetween;
advancing a cannula through the piercing member lumen;
guiding the cannula to a treatment site; and

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U.S.S.N. 09/888,079
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treating the treatment site.

Claim 28. (original) The method of claim 27 wherein the step of guiding the
cannula to the treatment site comprises:

advancing the cannula within the eye until the distal end of the cannula is within the
treatment site.

Claim 29. (original) The method of claim 27 or 28 wherein the step of treating
the treatment site comprises:

supplying a medicament through the cannula and into the treatment site via the distal end
of the cannula.

Claim 30. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the

medicament is selected from the group consisting of genes, proteins, cells, small molecule
pharmaceuticals and sterile solutions.

Claim 3 1 . (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the step of

treating the treatment site comprises withdrawing material from the treatment site into the distal
end of the cannula.

Claim 32. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the step of

piercing the eye with a piercing member comprises inserting the distal end of the piercing
member into and through the eye's sclera.

Claim 33. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the

treatment site is selected from the group consisting of the eye's retina and the eye's vitreous
humor.

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Claim 34. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the

treatment site is the eye's retina and the step of treating the treatment site comprises:

injecting medicament through the cannula and under the retina such that a dome-shaped
retinal detachment is formed.

Claim 35. previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the outer diameter
of the piercing member is about 25 gauge or smaller.

Claim 36. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 wherein the device

is inserted into the sclera of the eye.

Claim 37. (cancelled)

Claim 38. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 wherein the cannula

comprises a polymer.

Claim 39. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 further comprising

administering to the eye a therapeutic agent with the device.

Claim 40. (previously presented) The method of claim 39 wherein the

therapeutic agent is administered through the cannula to the eye.

Claim 41 . (previously presented) The method of claim 39 wherein a steroid is

administered to the eye.

Claim 42. (previously presented) The method of claim 39 wherein a

therapeutic agent is administered to the eye to treat retinal detachment, vascular occlusion,

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proliferative retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, inflammation, degenerative disease, vascular
disease or a tumor.

Claim 43. (previously presented) The method of claim 39 wherein the

therapeutic agent is administered sub-retinally within the eye.

Claim 44. (previously presented) The method of claim 39 wherein the cannula

is positioned within subretinal space of the eye and a therapeutic agent is injected from the
cannula into the subretinal space.

Claim 45. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 further comprising

removing material from the eye with the device.

Claim 46. (previously presented) The method of claim 45 wherein intravitreal

fluid is removed from the eye.

Claim 47. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 wherein the outer

diameter of the piercing member is small enough to allow the insertion site to self-seal following
withdrawal of the piercing member from the eye.

Claim 48. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 wherein the

piercing member outer diameter is about 25 gauge or less.

Claim 49. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the device

is inserted into the sclera of the eye.

Claim 50. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the device

advanced transconjunctival^ through the eye.

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Claim 5 1 . (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the cannula

comprises a polymer.

Claim 52. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the treating

comprises administering to the eye a therapeutic agent to the eye with the device.

Claim 53. (previously presented) The method of claim 52 wherein a steroid is

administered to the eye.

Claim 54. (previously presented) The method of claim 52 wherein a

therapeutic agent is administered to the eye to treat retinal detachment, vascular occlusion,
proliferative retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, inflammation, degenerative disease, vascular
disease or a tumor.

Claim 55. (previously presented) The method of claim 52 wherein the

therapeutic agent is administered sub-retinally in the eye.

Claim 56. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the treating

comprises removing material from the eye with the device.

Claim 57. (previously presented) The method of claim 56 wherein intravitreal

fluid is removed from the eye.

Claim 58. (previously presented) The method of claim 52 wherein the cannula

is positioned within subretinal space of the eye and a therapeutic agent is injected from the
cannula into the subretinal space.

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Claim 59. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the outer
diameter of the piercing member is small enough to allow the insertion site to self-seal following
withdrawal of the piercing member from the eye.

Claim 60. (previously presented) A method for treating an eye comprising:
inserting into an eye a device comprising an outer member and a cannula within the outer
member and within a piercing member, the cannula having a length extending or extendable
beyond the outer member distal end, wherein the device is inserted into the eye by piercing the
eye with the piercing member and advancing the piercing member into the eye.

Claim 61 . (previously presented) The method of claim 60 wherein the devices

is inserted into the sclera of the eye.

Claim 62. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 wherein the device

is advanced transconjunctival^ through the eye.

Claim 63. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 wherein the cannula

comprises a polymer.

Claim 64. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 further comprising

administering to the eye a therapeutic agent with the device.

Claim 65. (previously presented) The method of claim 64 wherein the

therapeutic agent is administered through the cannula to the eye.

Claim 66. (previously presented) The method of claim 64 wherein a steroid is

administered to the eye.

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Claim 67. (previously presented) The method of claim 64 wherein a

therapeutic agent is administered to the eye to treat retinal detachment, vascular occlusion,
proliferative retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, inflammation, degenerative disease, vascular
disease or a tumor.

Claim 68. (previously presented) The method of claim 64 wherein the

therapeutic agent is administered sub-retinally within the eye.

Claim 69. (previously presented) The method of claim 64 wherein the cannula

is positioned within subretinal space of the eye and a therapeutic agent is injected from the
cannula into the subretinal space.

Claim 70. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 further comprising

removing material from the eye with the device.

Claim 71 . (previously presented) The method of claim 70 wherein intravitreal

fluid is removed from the eye.

Claim 72. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 wherein the outer

diameter of the outer member is small enough to allow the insertion site to self-seal following
withdrawal of the piercing member from the eye.

Claim 73. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 wherein the outer

member outer diameter is about 25 gauge or less.

Claim 74. (previously presented) The method of claim 23 wherein the

piercing member creates an opening in the eye that is self-sealing.

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Claim 75. (previously presented) The method of claim 27 wherein the

piercing member creates an opening in the eye that is self-sealing.

Claim 76. (previously presented) The method of claim 60 wherein the

piercing member creates an opening in the eye that is self-sealing.